Kenya on alert with bird flu next door

A recent outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in
southern Sudan has prompted Kenyan authorities to issue a bird flu alert,
banning poultry imports from Sudan and other affected
countries.

Nicholas Muraguri of the ministry of health said extra teams of health
workers and veterinarians were testing people and poultry for bird
flu in the Turkana and Lokichoggio districts which border southern
Sudan.

"Apart from surveillance, Kenya has banned poultry and poultry products
imports from Sudan and other affected countries as a preventive measure against
the bird flu," Muraguli told the Xinhua News Agency.

Officials say Kenya and other east African countries are at risk because
infected birds are migrating to the region from Europe to escape the northern
hemisphere winter.

Muraguli said Kenya has set up 11 centers in public hospitals where health
workers are carrying out surveillance on patients suffering from flu-like
illnesses.

"People should not touch, eat, sell or transport poultry or wild birds
found dead. They should instead report such cases to the nearest veterinary or
public health office," said Muraguli.

He said all tests carried out showed that there was no bird fly virus in
Kenya and urged people to continue eating poultry, a staple protein source in
rural Africa, without fear.